Lebanese TV editor acquitted on appeal in Hariri case

A special court set up to try the killers of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri

The Hague - AFP

A special court set up to try the killers of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri on Tuesday quashed on appeal the conviction of a senior TV journalist accused of obstructing justice.

Al-Jadeed television’s deputy chief editor, Karma Khayat, had in September been cleared of one charge of contempt of court after her station published details of the witnesses in the highly-sensitive trial.

The television station had also been cleared of all accusations of contempt brought against it.

But Khayat was found guilty by the tribunal based in The Hague on a lesser charge of obstruction of justice for failing to remove the broadcast from the TV’s website and social media as ordered.

On Tuesday, an appeals hearing agreed Khayat should also be acquitted of this charge.

It also dismissed an order that she pay a 10,000 euros ($11,000) fine and upheld the acquittal of the TV station, which the prosecution had sought to appeal.